Musical top.



P. W. KENT.

MUSICAL TOP.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29,1912.

1,053,040. Patented Feb. 11,1913.

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F. W. KENT.

MUSICAL TOP.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29,1912.

1,053,040, Patented Feb. 11,1913.

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F. W. KENT.

MUSICAL TOP.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29,1912.

1,053,040, Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

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' ley road, Tufnell Park, London,

FREDERICK WILLIAM KENT, or LoNnoN, ENGLAND.

MUSICAL TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11,1913.

Application filed July 29, 1912. Serial No. 712,219.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnnnnnron \VILLIAM Kerri, subject of George V, Kingof Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at 91 Tab- England, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvemonts in or Relating to MusicalTops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to musical tops of the type in which there is acentral spindle around which the driving mechanism and the fans or vanesare arranged, the purpose of the fans or vanes being to produce adifference in the velocities of the casing of the top and the saidspindle.

Now, one of the objects of my present invention is to combinecolor-changing means with such a type of top, the arrangement being suchthat, by one operation of winding up, the music producing mechanism andcolor-changing mechanism and the top are set in motion simultaneously.

Another object of my present invention is to improve the stability ofthe top, which I do by pivoting the central spindle in the peg on whichthe top rotates.

A further object of my invention is to improve the general constructionof the top, the improvements made to this end being hereinafterdescribed and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In order that this invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into effect, 1 will proceed to describe the same with referenceto the accompanying drawings which show the preferred manner of carryingout this invention.

Figure 1 is a central vertical section, partly in elevation, of a top inwhich the music-producing mechanism is placed vertically, Fig. 1" is aplan of a detail of Fig. 1, Fig. 2 shows nism in the upper part of thetop. Fig. 3 is an under-plan of a portion of the mechanism in the lowerpart of the top. Fig. 4 is a part end elevation of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 shows,on an enlarged scale, an elevation partly in section of a portion of themechanism shown in Fig. 1 as seen from the back of the latter figure.Fig. 6 is a plan on a reduced scale of the upper half of the casing ofthe top. Fig. 7 shows, also on a reduced scale, a plan of a colored diskwhich is arranged within the half of the casing shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8is a fractional view in end elevation. Fig. 9 is a side elevation ofFig. 8. Fig. 10 is in plan a portion of the mechaa central verticalsection partly in elevation of a portion of a top in which themusicprodueing mechanism is placed horizontally. Fig. 11 is a part underplan of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a plan and Fig. 13 a side elevation ofexpansible fans or vanes.

Referring to the drawings, the casing, which is preferably made of thinmetal, is in two parts 1 and 2. At the center of the bottom portion ofthe casing is fixed a peg 3 having a round cavity 3 in which the lowerend of the main spindle 4 rotates. The spindle 4 passes loosely throughthe center of a spindle preferably comprising a disk-like center portion5 provided with three arms 6, 6, the ends of the arms being let into aheavy metal ring as clearly shown 1n Figs. 3 and 4. The ring 7 fits intoa groove formed between the two parts 1 and 2 of the casing which partsare secured together by means of a beading 8. The said ring assists toimpart momentum and balance to the top while spinning. Pressed upwardfrom the edge of the portion 5 of the spider are three lugs 9, 9, ofwhich one is clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 9, for the support of themotor and driving mechanism as hereinafter explained.

On the main spindle 4 is fixed a boss 10 provided with a ratchet 11 anda hook 12 to which latter is attached the inner end of a coil-spring 13,which, when wound up, drives the music producing mechanism and thecolor-changing mechanism when the top is spun. On the boss 10 isrotatably carried a driving wheel 14 combined with a pawl 14' and aspring 14 (clearly shown in Fig. 1). The wheel 14 is kept in place by acollar 15 provided on the lower end of the boss 10. The small Wheel 16surrounds but is free from the spindle 4 and has two projections 17fixed to it, the ends of these projections being centered through holes14, 14 (Fig. 1 provided in the driving wheel 14 so that both wheels 14and .16 rotate together. The wheel 16 gears with a wheel 18 which isfixed on the upper end of the spin dle 19 of the pin-barrel 20 and theboss of which extends through a hole 5 formed in the central portion 5of the spider. The upper part of the spindle 19 is made square as shownat 21 (Fig. 5) where it fits into the pin-barrel in order to prevent thelatter from turning around independently of the wheel 18. The lower endof the spindle 19 is tremities of the plate 22 rest upon the lower stepsor shoulders of the lugs 9. The plate 22 supports and keeps thecoil-spring 13 inplace. Above the coil-spring 13 is arranged a coverplate 23 provided with three slots 24 through which the upper ends ofthe lugs 9, 9, are passed and then bent down on to the cover plate 23.The coil-spring 13 is thus efliciently housed between the two plates 22and 23. The outer end of the coilspring 13 is fastened to one of thelugs 9. The wheel 14 engages the pinion 25 the spindle 25 of which alsocarries a wheel 26. The wheel 26 gears with a train of two wheels, 27and 28, through the medium of their respective pinions 27 and 28, andthe wheel 28 engages a pinion 29 which rotates around the main spindle4. The wheels 27 and 28 are pivoted between the cover plate 23 and abridge-piece 30 fixed at its ends to the cover-plate. A bar 31 issecured to the upper part of the pinion 29 and carries at each end a fanblade 32, either fixed to the bar 31, as in Figs. 1 and 2, or, as inFigs. 12 and 13, adapted to slide along the bar 31 against the pressureof springs 31, 31, under the action of centrifugal force as hereinafterexplained. In Figs. 1 and 2, the ends of the bar 31 pass through the fanblades 32, 32, and are then bent over as at 31", 31", thereby assistingin holding the fan-blades in position. The fan regulates the speed ofthe wheels. In the expanding form of fan shown in Figs. 12 and 13, thebar 31 is made of oblong cross-section, so as to prevent the fan-blades32, 32, from turning over. On the lower end of the pinion 29 an abutment33 is provided. Two lugs 34 are pressed up from the cover plate 23 eachhaving a hole to receive a rod one end of which carries a metal ball 36while the other end thereof carries a small knob 37 which prevents therod from coming out of the lugs 34, 34 and also stops the fan byengaging the abutment 33 at the required time. The rod 35 has a collar38 fixed thereon and also carries a sensitive spiral spring 39, one endof the spring pressing against the collar 38 while the other end pressesagainst the outer lug 34. Then the top is spun, the centrifugal forceset up causes the rod 35 to move outward and so releases the knob 37from the abutment 33, thereby leaving the fan free to rotate around themain spindle. rot-ates in the opposite direction to that in which thetop is spinning.

On the main spindle 4 is fixed a boss 40 having a small disk providedwith two or more arms 41 the extremities 41 of which are bent upward andfit into holes formed in a large colored disk 42 having concentriccircles divided into sections of different shades of bright colors (seeFig. 7 A collar 29 is loosely fitted on the spindle 4 be tween the bar31 and the part 41. The top of the casing of the top has a number ofperforations 43, 43, and forms a mask for the colored disk asillustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The difi'erent colored sectionsof the card 42 should be madea little longer than the length of theperforations 43. The mask is dark-colored,preferably black. As shown inFig. 6, the perforations are arranged on five concentric circles, eachcircle having three perforations. The per forat-ions on one circlealternate with the perforations on. the next circle. In some cases eachcircle may contain two perforations arranged diametrically opposite eachother, which would allow for more changes of colors, but obviously inthat case when the top is spinning the colors would not be seen sodistinctly as they would by having three perforations in each circle, asshown in Fig. 6. Through the main spindle 4 is passed a pin 44 (Fig. 1)which is intended to keep in place a pulley 45 of wood, thin metal orother material. Above the pulley is arranged the handle 4 within whichthe spindle 4 rotates when the handle is held during the preliminaryspinning of the top.

The pin-barrel 20 and sounding comb 46 are supported on a frame 47 whichis conveniently pressed out of a single piece of metal. As shown inFigs. 1 and 5, the frame 47 is arranged vertically and has a hole ineach end in order to allow the lower portion of the main spindle 4 topass through and rotate within it. The vertical frame 47 is secured onthe spindle 4 by means of a pin 48 or otherwise, and is pre vented frommoving out of place by a lug (or lugs) 49 pressed up from the centralportion 5 of the spider.

In Figs. 10 and 11 the pin-barrel and sounding comb are placedhorizontally under the spider 5, 6. As shown in Fig. 11 an opening 50 isleft in the center of the sounding comb through which the main spindle 4passes. The pin-barrel has a bevel or other suitable wheel 51 at one endgearing with a pinion 52 which is mounted on The fan a spindle passingthrough the central portion 5 of the spider and the plate 22 andcover-plate 23. The frame 47 is prevented from moving out of its placeby means of the lugs 53, 53, pressed up from the said portion 5.

The heaviest part of the music-producing mechanism should be fixedopposite the heaviest part of the remaining mechanism, so as to insureas even a balance as possible, and, if necessary, for this purpose asmall weight should be fixed on the said portion 5 in a suitable place,such as at 54 in Fig. 3, before placing the mechanism in its casing; thetop then spins free from vibration. Sound exit holes 55 (Fig. 6) aremade in the upper part of the casing.

o operate the top proceed as follows: First wind string on pulley 45,then hold knob a in the hand, and suddenly unwind string. By so doing,the casing 1, 2 is rotated through the medium of the spindle 4, spring13 and the spider 5, 6. If the spring 13 is slack the pull on the stringcauses the pawl 11 to click or pass over the teeth of the ratchet duringthe time that the inertia of the casing 1, 2, is being overcome thuscausing the casing to lag behind and allowing the spring to be wound up,the lower end of the spindle 4 then rotating in the peg 3. When thecasing has gathered sufficient speed, the centrifugal force set upcauses the brake knob 37 to be released from the abutment 33, so thatwhen the string has been completely unwound the spring 13, being free,commences to unwind and drives the spindle i in the opposite directionof rotation to the casing and at the same time drives the wheel 14 andthe mechanism connected therewith. Consequently the music commences toplay and there is a comparatively slow movement of the colors on thedisk 42 past the perforations 4:3, 13 as the disk lags in its rotationrelatively to the mask. .Vhen the speed of the casing has fallen to acertain point the brake-knob 37 moves inward and engages the abutment33, thereby stopping the whole of the internal mechanism relatively tothe casing 1, 2. The spring 18 may be wound up by holding the casing 1,2, stationary and twisting the pulley 45.

A star-wheel and finger (not illustrated) may be used, if desired, toprevent overwinding of the coil spring.

In the construction of these tops it is advisable to make them as low aspossible, especially so the mechanism, which should also be light inweight.

I claim:

1. In a top, a casing, a central spindle loosely mounted in said casing,music producing mechanism, a member fixed to said casing and carryingsaid music-producing mechanism, color-changing mechanism, a diskincluded in said mechanism carried by said spindle, a spring connectedat one end to said member and at the other end to said spindle andadapted to operate said musicproducing mechanism, means for Winding upsaid spring, means adapted to be operated by the centrifugal force setup by the top when spinning for releasing said spring, and means foroperating upon said lastmentioned means so as to stop the unwinding ofsaid spring when. said centrifugal force falls to a predetermined value.

2. In a top, a casing, a central spindle loosely mounted in said casingand also loosely mounted in the peg (3) of the top, music-producingmechanism, a mem er fixed to said casing and carrying said musicproducing mechanism, colorchanging mechanism, a disk included in saidmechanism carried by said spindle, a spring connected at one end to saidmember and at the other end to said spindle and adapted to operate saidmusic-producing mechanism, means for winding up said spring, meansadapted to be operated by the centrifugal force set up by the top whenspinning for releasing said spring,

ating upon said last-mentioned means so as to stop the unwinding of saidspring when said centrifugal force falls to a predetermined value.

3. In a top, a casing, a perforated top to said casing, a spiderextending across an fixed to said casing, a central spindle looselymounted in said casing and freely passing through said spider, acolor-carrying disk carried by said spindle and visible through saidperforated top, a driving pulley (45) carried by said spindle, a fan, apinion (29) attached to said fan and loosely mounted on said spindle, anabutment (83) on said pinion, a centrifugal governor adapted tocooperate with said abutment, means for carrying said centrifugalgovernor on said spider, a driving spring (13) fixed at one end to saidspindle, means for attaching the other end of said spring to saidspider, and gearing adapted to be driven by and arranged intermediate ofsaid spring and saidmusic-producing mechanism and said pin- 1011.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

FREDERICK /VILLIAM KENT.

Witnesses R. VVns'rAcoT'r, H. T. P. GEE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

and means for oper--

